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The WHO held a three-day regional workshop on new vaccine introduction prioritization and sequencing, in Cairo, Egypt, from 31 August to 2 September 2025. The workshop brought together representatives from 14 countries of the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region to strengthen national capacity for making proactive, evidence-informed decisions on the timing, sequencing and optimization of new vaccine introductions.
The workshop was opened by Dr Benedetta Allegranzi, Director of the Department of Communicable Diseases at the Regional Office, who called for stronger collaboration across countries and partners, stressing that “working together is key to ensuring that every child and every person in the Region benefits from the life-saving power of vaccines.”
Over the three days, participants took part in technical presentations, poster walks, panel discussions and group exercises designed to enhance national decision-making on new vaccine introduction. The first day set the scene with an overview of regional immunization goals and priorities and provided updates from the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) on immunization, including guidance on priority diseases and recommended vaccines for the Region.
Participants also engaged in a poster walk to share experiences from their countries and joined a panel discussion with partners on how immunization programmes are adapting to current global and regional health challenges.
The second day introduced the New Vaccine Introduction Prioritization and Sequencing Tool, with participants working in groups to apply its different phases – from defining criteria to collecting data and ranking vaccines – supported by examples of country experience.
The final day highlighted vaccine optimization practices and featured case studies from the Region and beyond, before concluding with the development of draft national action plans and discussions on next steps to support implementation at country level.
The recommendations and draft action plans developed during the workshop will serve as a foundation for participating countries to conduct their own vaccine prioritization and optimization exercises in the coming months. These country-led efforts will inform the development or revision of national immunization strategies, ensuring that new vaccines are introduced in ways that are timely, sustainable and adapted to national health priorities. The event also provided an opportunity for participants to expand their professional networks, exchange experiences and gain new perspectives from peers across the Region. The workshop outcomes will strengthen immunization systems across the Region and contribute to global efforts to expand equitable access to life-saving vaccines. This will be achieved by reinforcing the role of National Immunization Technical Advisory Groups (NITAGs), enhancing collaboration with ministries of health and partners, and promoting cross-country learning.
The success of the workshop was made possible through the contributions and support of WHO headquarters and partner organizations, including Development Catalyst, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, John Snow, Inc., the NITAG Support Hub, the Task Force for Global Health, and UNICEF.
On 10 September 2025, the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean brought together an influential panel of more than 40 experts, health professionals ministry of health officials from Gaza and West Bank, and humanitarian organizations for a critical discussion on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in the Gaza Strip.
Gaza faces a convergence of crises that fuel AMR. This includes overcrowding and disrupted health services, limited access to diagnostics and antibiotics, high infection rates and a fragile health system. This panel discussion highlighted the urgent need to address AMR amidst these complex challenges.
A recent comment in The Lancet revealed that nearly two thirds of bacterial isolates from Al-Ahli Arab Baptist Hospital (1 November 2023–31 August 2024) were resistant to multiple antibiotics. War injury and trauma-related wounds showed particularly high rates of resistance, underscoring the gravity of the challenges – poor hygiene and infection prevention and the non-availability of proper antibiotics. Panellists and experts stressed that the collapse of routine laboratory surveillance and diagnostic testing hampers antimicrobial stewardship efforts.
The crisis is compounded by the blockade restricting medical supplies. Delays and denials at border crossings have resulted in the expiration of vital diagnostic reagents and medicines, severely impacting patient care.
Panellists emphasized the urgent need for coordinated action to:
Lift restrictions on medical supplies to Gaza.
Restore laboratory infrastructure and standardize microbiology practices.
Update clinical guidelines to address complex conflict-related injuries.
Strengthen infection prevention and control measures.
The discussion closed with a call for an urgent ceasefire and open borders to enable humanitarian aid and the rebuilding of Gaza’s fragile health system. There is also a need to integrate AMR mitigation into humanitarian health programming. Without sustained global support and political commitment, the spread of multidrug resistant infections poses a grave threat not only to Gaza but to the wider region and beyond.
20 July 2025, Cairo, Egypt – In her visit to Afghanistan from 29 June to 1 July 2025, WHO Regional Director Dr Hanan Balkhy focused on polio eradication efforts, substance use treatment and other priority areas.
Dr Balkhy met with national leaders and partners, including UN representatives and diplomats. In her meeting with the Minister of Public Health H.E. Noor Jalal Jalali, Dr Balkhy discussed progress on polio eradication and the challenges facing the Polio Programme, and the 3 flagship initiatives, with a focus on strengthening Afghanistan’s national regulatory authority, building the capacity of laboratory personnel and establishing a national dialogue on substance use.
Dr Balkhy offered WHO support in developing a national rehabilitation and reintegration plan and expressed WHO’s keenness to collaborate with the Ministry of Public Health on a national health policy addressing key issues such as One Health, substance use and road traffic accidents.
Dr Balkhy also met with representatives from the embassies of Pakistan, Indonesia and Türkiye, the World Bank, the European Union and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to discuss the Polio Programme and request support for Programme activities and other health priorities.
An estimated 4 million people suffer from substance use disorders in Afghanistan. Visiting the 100-bed Female and Children Drug Addiction Treatment Centre in Kabul, Dr Balkhy praised the strength and resilience of women receiving treatment and stressed that everyone deserves a chance to heal.
In a meeting with Ms Roza Otunbayeva, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and head of United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), Dr Balkhy explored ways to address Afghanistan's pressing health priorities, including support for returnees and bridging funding gaps.
She also met the Chinese Ambassador to Afghanistan HE Zhao Xing, and with UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Kabul Ms Indrika Ratwatte.
In all her meetings, Dr Balkhy highlighted the importance of working together to improve the well-being of the Afghan people, the urgent need for collaboration and solidarity in addressing Afghanistan's growing health needs, and for collective action to build a healthier, more resilient future for all Afghanis.
Selected photos from the mission
Dr Hanan Balkhy met HE Zhao Xing Chinese Ambassador to Afghanistan
Dr Hanan Balkhy visited the Drug Addiction and Treatment Center in Kabul
Dr Hanan Balkhy with Acting Minister of Public Health Noor Jalal Jalali
Dr Hanan Balkhy meeting with Ms Roza Otunbayeva, special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of UNAMA
